On 6 December 2024, the latest session of the webinar series “Boosting Hydropower: Best Practices for Research” brought together experts and researchers to share recent developments in hydropower technology. Organised by the ETIP HYDROPOWER project, the event highlighted key innovations and introduced findings from the 2024 Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO) report.

Three European-funded research projects—new Solutions for Hydropower plants to Enhance operational Range, Performance and improve environmental impAct (SHERPA), Revolutionary Refurbishment for an Efficient and Eco-friendly Hydropower (RevHydro), and INNOVATIVE STORAGE TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS IN HYDROPOWER (STOR-HY)—were showcased, each addressing challenges related to hydropower plant efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability. Project highlights were:

• • Ademir Suárez from Iberdrola Spain outlined SHERPA’s objective to refurbish existing hydropower plants to expand their operational range. The project seeks to accommodate lower water flows while ensuring economic viability and minimising environmental impact. ACCESS THE PRESENTATION HERE.
  • Michel Cervantes from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, presented RevHydro’s work on developing technologies to enhance plant efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The initiative focuses on addressing challenges faced by ageing hydropower plants due to evolving energy demands, climate changes, and technological advancements. ACCESS THE PRESENTATION HERE.
  • Alexandre Presas of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain, introduced STOR-HY’s efforts to extend the lifespan of pumped storage hydropower plants. The project also explores retrofitting equipment with smart monitoring systems and tackling storage applications in challenging environments such as seawater and former coal mines. ACCESS THE PRESENTATION HERE.

OTHER KEY CONTRIBUTIONS:

The webinar also included presentations by Emanuele Quaranta from the Joint Research Centre (JRC), who shared insights from the Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO) Hydropower 2024 report, highlighting hydropower’s role in the EU’s clean energy transition and a research paper on "Considerations on the existing capacity and future potential for energy storage in the European Union's hydropower reservoirs and pumped-storage hydropower". ACCESS THE PRESENTATION HERE.

In addition, Anton Schleiss from the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), also provided an overview of ETIP HYDROPOWER’s contributions to innovation and policy support in the sector. ACCESS THE PRESENTATION HERE.

The session reinforced the importance of research and innovation in ensuring the continued relevance of hydropower within Europe’s energy landscape. The projects presented demonstrated how modernisation, environmental responsibility, and resilience are integral to the future of the sector.

The webinar series remains a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, supporting hydropower’s contribution to achieving the EU’s clean energy objectives. You can rewatch it on our Youtube channel or via the miniature below: